The great and the good of west Norfolk’s business community came together at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange for the West Norfolk Mayor’s Business Awards yesterday (Friday, March 3).

About 150 people attended the event led by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk mayor David Whitby.

Mr Whitby said: “It was a very successful event and everyone was very pleased with the way it went. It showed off the best busineses in the towns, which was very good”.

The winner of a ‘business person of the year’ category was Mark Kacary of Norfolk Deli. Mr Kacary launched the Hunstanton delicatessen in January 2014 with his wife, Rosie. A ‘mayor’s business of the year’ award was won by Mars Food UK of King’s Lynn.

A ‘small growing business’ category was won by the Downham Market-based Vets One Group. Charlie Ilson won an ‘apprentice/trainee of the year’ award, and the Downham Games was given the top gong in a ‘community event of the year’ category.

Other winner included Manor Farm for the category ‘customer care’, King’s Lynn’s Majestic Cinema for ‘independent retailer’, True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum for ‘leisure and tourism’ and Peter Lawrence for ‘innovator of the year.’

The battle to engage more girls in technical subjects is beginning to bear fruit – but leading figures in the industry in East Anglia say engagement and outreach will be key to bringing up the numbers.